Police: Man injured in Hempfield road rage incident

A man was hurt Friday after a witness said he tried to stop a motorist from leaving what was described as a road rage incident in a Hempfield shopping plaza, according to court papers.

State police made an arrest within 20 minutes after finding the suspect in Hempfield Plaza along Route 30. Derek R. Walters, 41, of Hempfield, is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangerment and related offenses.

Troopers were called at 10:30 a.m. and found the injured man being treated by Mutual Aid paramedics. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of road rash and a cut on his head, police said.

The man told investigators that Walters tried to pass him on Hempfield Plaza Boulevard, which runs behind Walmart and Sam’s Club, according to court papers. A confrontation between the two motorists ensued nearby in a parking lot and Walters retrieved a tire iron, which police said he used to hit the other man’s vehicle.

The injured man attempted to stop Walters from leaving the scene by holding on to his Jeep Cherokee but was dragged by the SUV as Walters drove away, according to court papers.

Police said they found Walters near Sam’s Club a short time later. He told investigators about the traffic incident and confrontation that followed while admitting to hitting the other motorist’s car with the tire iron, according to court papers. There was about $400 worth of damage.

Walters told troopers he “was concerned for his life” because of the injured man holding onto his SUV, according to court papers.

Walters was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bail. A Sept. 6 preliminary hearing is set. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records.

State police previously advised motorists to not engage with an aggressive driver and avoid eye contact and hand gestures while staying calm. Drivers should not pull over but rather note the registration plate and description of the offending vehicle and its driver and make a call to 911.